Why the convenor matters more now, not less.
Any AI can generate an agenda in ten seconds. None of them can read a room. That gap is the whole argument for this directory. The tools that promised to make gathering effortless have made the easy parts of gathering effortless: the scheduling, the slide deck, the icebreaker prompt pulled from a database of a thousand other icebreaker prompts. What they cannot do is notice that the VP in the third row has gone quiet, or that the energy in an open space session just curdled into politeness, or that the room needs permission before it needs structure. That is a human skill, developed over hundreds of rooms, and it does not scale down into a prompt. The convenor economy used to hide this work inside the job description of “meeting planner” or “conference producer,” as though facilitation were a garnish on the real event. It was never a garnish. It is the mechanism. A gathering with a brilliant agenda and a mediocre facilitator produces a mediocre gathering. A gathering with a modest agenda and a great facilitator produces the thing people remember a decade later. This list is the bench for the moment when that distinction actually matters: twelve practitioners, vetted and mapped to the formats they run, for the times a friend-of-the-CEO will not do.
Adam Kahane (Montreal, Quebec, Canada · Transformative Scenario Planning, Multi-Stakeholder Facilitation, Conflict Transformation)
Co-founder of Reos Partners and best-selling author renowned for facilitating radical collaboration among adversarial stakeholders on the world’s toughest systemic challenges.
Known for: Transformative Scenario Planning, Social Labs, Theory U, Generative Dialogue
Adrian Segar (Peer Conferences, Participant-Driven Events, Unconferences)
Pioneer of participant-driven events and author of “Conferences That Work.” Created the peer conference model that puts attendees in control of the agenda. Over 30 years of experience designing meetings that actually matter.
Known for: Peer Session / Participant-Driven Conference, Fishbowl Discussion, Human Spectrogram
Aftab Erfan (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Dialogue Facilitation, Racial Equity, Civic Engagement)
Executive Director of SFU Centre for Dialogue and scholar-practitioner advancing equity-centred dialogue, civic engagement, and racial justice facilitation in Canada.
Known for: Dialogue Facilitation, World Café, Participatory Action Research, Public Engagement Design
Andalusia K. Soloff (Mexico · Latin America, Bilingual: Spanish, Indigenous Issues)
Award-winning independent journalist who makes documentaries and reports for the BBC, NBC News, Al Jazeera and Democracy Now! Expertise in Latin America: war on drugs, indigenous land struggles, gender-based violence. Bilingual moderator in English and Spanish.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Anjali Rao (Australia · Corporate, International Affairs, Moderator)
Multi-award-winning journalist with 20 years in top-tier broadcast news and current affairs. Honest, relaxed interview style honed at CNN. Has facilitated hundreds of corporate events for IBM, Hilton, IATA, and the Clinton Global Foundation.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Anne-Marie Dias Borges (United Kingdom · Multilingual: French, Multilingual: Portuguese, Moderator)
Multilingual moderator, emcee, journalist and broadcaster fluent in French, English and Portuguese Creole. Twenty years of experience as a presenter and producer at BBC TV and radio.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Avril Orloff (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Graphic Facilitation, Visual Thinking, Experience Design)
Graphic facilitator and experience designer at Outside the Lines helping teams in Vancouver and beyond unlock breakthrough thinking through visual storytelling and joyful process.
Known for: Graphic Facilitation, Visual Sensemaking, World Café, Open Space Technology
Birgitt Williams (Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, USA · Genuine Contact, Open Space Technology, Organisational Transformation)
Co-creator of the Genuine Contact Way and Dalar International founder, pioneering Open Space Technology-based whole-organisation transformation on six continents.
Known for: Open Space Technology, Genuine Contact Way, Whole Organisation Planning, Circle Practice
Bob Stilger (Spokane, WA, USA · World Café, Community Resilience, Conversational Leadership)
Co-president of Berkana Institute and long-time World Café host. Specializes in community resilience, post-disaster recovery (notably in Japan after 2011), and conversations that matter.
Known for: World Café, Open Space, Circle
Caitlin Frost (Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada · Art of Hosting, Leadership Coaching, Participatory Facilitation)
Coach, certified facilitator, and Art of Hosting steward helping leaders and groups do meaningful work together from Bowen Island, BC.
Known for: Art of Hosting, World Café, Circle Practice, The Work of Byron Katie
Celeste Headlee (United States · Conversation, DEI, Author)
Keynote speaker, moderator, journalist, podcaster, broadcaster and writer. Reporter and anchor at NPR and Public Radio International for over a decade. Author of “We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter.” President and CEO of Headway DEI.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Chika Oduah (Senegal & Nigeria · Africa, Storytelling, Moderator)
Nigerian-American award-winning journalist, moderator, emcee, writer, poet and photographer. Passionate about documenting the stories and lives of Africans and people of African descent.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Chris Corrigan (British Columbia, Canada · Art of Hosting, Participatory Leadership, Harvest)
Co-founder of the Art of Hosting network, a global community of practitioners using participatory leadership and dialogue methods. Facilitator, author, and harvest artist based in British Columbia.
Known for: Open Space Technology, World Café, Appreciative Inquiry
Claudine Moore (United States · Communications, PR, Africa)
British-born and raised, award-winning PR and communications executive working across Europe, the Americas and Africa. Regular international speaker and moderator. Has worked with leaders including Kofi Annan and Tony Elumelu.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Dareen Abughaida (Qatar · Bilingual: Arabic, Media Training, Gulf Region)
Moderator, media trainer and Principal Presenter at Al Jazeera English. Hosts events globally in English and Arabic. Has anchored for Bloomberg, CNBC and Dubai TV. Certified trainer for media and corporate clients.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Media Training
Dave Gray (Gamestorming, Visual Thinking, Design Thinking)
Founder of Gamestorming and XPLANE. Author of “Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers” and “The Connected Company.” Pioneer in visual thinking and co-creation tools.
Known for: Cover Story, Empathy Map, Affinity Map
David Isaacs (World Café, Strategic Dialogue, Organizational Learning)
Co-originator of the World Café methodology alongside Juanita Brown. A strategic consultant specializing in large-group dialogue processes and organizational learning.
Known for: World Café
Dr Joannie Bewa (United States & Benin · Health, Public Health, Africa)
Award-winning medical doctor, philanthropist, bilingual moderator, keynote speaker and dynamic young leader. Expertise: medicine, public health, international development, youth leadership, education and African affairs. Moderates in English and French.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Elizabeth Puranam (Qatar · South Asia, Human Rights, Development)
International television news and current affairs broadcaster, anchor and moderator with 18 years of experience in New Zealand, Qatar and India. Former India correspondent for Al Jazeera. Passionate about development, social justice, human rights and environment.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Femi Oke (United States & United Kingdom · Broadcasting, Africa, Moderator)
Three decades reporting and hosting for the BBC, CNN, ITV, NPR and Al Jazeera English. World-class “infotainer” equally at home moderating high-level forums or hosting TV and radio. Creates and teaches Moderate The Panel’s masterclasses.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Media Training, Emcee
Fiona Grant (United States · DEI, Leadership, Coaching)
Extremely popular emcee and moderator for leadership development, inclusion, equity and diversity forums. Certified leadership coach. Trademark energy and self-deprecating stories enliven every event.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Emcee
Fionnuala Sweeney (Ireland & United Kingdom · International Affairs, Environment, Development)
Experienced moderator, chief trainer for Moderate The Panel masterclasses and award-winning broadcast journalist with over two decades reporting and anchoring for CNN International. Skilled at moderating international affairs, environment, tourism, aging and development.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Media Training
Gillian Joseph (United Kingdom · Broadcasting, News, Moderator)
More than thirty years of broadcasting and moderating experience. Currently a highly respected news anchor at Sky News. Draws on vast knowledge from her journalism career to handle any topic with ease.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Hadiza L. Buge (United States · Law Enforcement, International Affairs, Development)
The world’s only deputy assistant director for a federal law enforcement component who is also a moderator. Former CNN producer and journalist. Expertise includes international affairs and development.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Harrison Owen (Open Space Technology, Self-Organization, Large-Scale Events)
Creator of Open Space Technology, one of the most widely used large-group facilitation methods in the world. Author of “Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide.” Owen passed away in 2024, but his methodology continues through thousands of trained practitioners.
Known for: Open Space Technology
Henri Lipmanowicz (Liberating Structures, Organizational Transformation, Distributed Leadership)
Co-creator of Liberating Structures, a menu of 33 practical methods for distributing control so that everyone can contribute. Former president of Merck’s Intercontinental operations. Decades of experience in organizational transformation.
Known for: 1-2-4-All, Troika Consulting, TRIZ, Wicked Questions, 25/10 Crowd Sourcing, 15% Solutions, Min Specs, Ecocycle Planning, Purpose-to-Practice (P2P), Impromptu Networking, What I Need From You (WINFY), What, So What, Now What? (W³), Heard, Seen, Respected (HSR)
Homara Choudhary (Qatar · Gulf Region, Climate, Technology)
Moderator and international multi-platform broadcast journalist with 20 years of experience at Al Jazeera and the BBC. Hosts and facilitates conferences for high-profile international clients in Qatar and the Gulf region. Specialties include climate change, environment, business, technology, AI and education.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Jerry Nagel (Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA · Worldview Intelligence, Art of Hosting, Rural Development)
Co-developer of Worldview Intelligence and Meadowlark Institute president, weaving Art of Hosting with worldview research for rural and urban leadership development in Minnesota.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Worldview Intelligence, World Café, ProAction Café
Juanita Brown (World Café, Conversational Leadership, Collective Intelligence)
Co-originator of the World Café methodology and co-author of “The World Café: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter.” A thought leader in collective intelligence and conversational leadership for over 25 years.
Known for: World Café
Kate Woodsome (United States · Mental Health, Democracy, Documentary)
Independent journalist and documentary filmmaker exploring the connection between mental health and the health of US democracy. Producer’s brain and journalist’s insight make her an extraordinarily perceptive facilitator.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Kathy Jourdain (Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada · Worldview Intelligence, Art of Hosting, Workplace Culture)
Co-developer of Worldview Intelligence and Art of Hosting steward consulting on workplace culture, behavioural science, and participatory leadership in Canada and beyond.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Worldview Intelligence, World Café, Circle Practice
Keith McCandless (Liberating Structures, Complexity Science, Facilitator Training)
Co-creator of Liberating Structures alongside Henri Lipmanowicz. Specializes in helping organizations adopt complexity-friendly practices. Trains facilitators worldwide in the Liberating Structures repertoire.
Known for: 1-2-4-All, Troika Consulting, TRIZ, Wicked Questions, 25/10 Crowd Sourcing, 15% Solutions, Min Specs, Ecocycle Planning, Purpose-to-Practice (P2P), Impromptu Networking, What I Need From You (WINFY), What, So What, Now What? (W³), Heard, Seen, Respected (HSR)
Lana Wong (United States · Arts, Development, Education)
Royal College of Art and Harvard educated. Poise and charisma honed presenting for the BBC. Globetrotting work spans photography, creative direction, education and development communication. Expertise: international development, education, environment, the arts, youth, personal storytelling.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Latoya Peterson (United States · Technology, Race, Pop Culture)
Moderate The Panel’s in-house technology guru. Creator of award-winning blog Racialicious.com, launched ESPN’s The Undefeated and co-founded Glow Up Games. Inspiring entrepreneur navigating emerging technology, race and pop culture.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Lisa Heft (Berkeley, California, USA · Open Space Technology, Participant-Driven Facilitation, Cross-Cultural Dialogue)
International Open Space Technology facilitator, educator, and President Emerita of Open Space Institute US, bringing participant-driven dialogue to communities worldwide.
Known for: Open Space Technology, World Café, Participatory Action Research, Dialogue Design
Maaianne Knuth (Goromonzi, Zimbabwe · Community Learning, Zimbabwe, Berkana Exchange)
Founder of Kufunda Learning Village in Zimbabwe and Berkana Exchange pioneer building regenerative, self-reliant community through participatory leadership and African wisdom.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Circle Practice, Appreciative Inquiry, World Café
Margaret (Meg) Wheatley (Utah, USA · Conversational Leadership, Community Resilience, Complexity)
Author of Leadership and the New Science and co-founder of the Berkana Institute — the lineage that seeded Art of Hosting. Convenes leaders around conversation as the primary act of organising.
Known for: Circle Practice, World Café
Martine Dennis (United Kingdom · Africa, Diaspora, Development)
Journalist, international broadcaster and moderator with more than three decades of experience in global affairs. Passion for Africa, the diaspora and development. Reports for Sky News, MNet, the BBC and Al Jazeera.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Mary Alice Arthur (New Zealand (works internationally) · Story Activism, Collective Intelligence, Art of Hosting)
Story Activist and Art of Hosting steward using narrative and collective intelligence to catalyse positive systemic shift in communities and organisations worldwide.
Known for: Art of Hosting, World Café, Appreciative Inquiry, Story Practice
Melissa Mahtani (United States · Broadcasting, Live Events, Moderator)
Professional moderator, emcee, TV host and Emmy-nominated journalist with 20 years of international experience in London, Paris and New York. Producer for CNN, CBS News, CNBC, France 24, the Guardian and ITN.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Moderate The Panel (agency) (United States · Panel Moderation, Event Facilitation, Virtual Events)
International broadcaster and professional moderator who founded Moderate The Panel in 2006 after watching too many important conversations derailed by unprepared moderators. Her guiding principle: DON’T BE BORING. Her team works across multiple platforms facilitating panel discussions, webinars, workshops, retreats, and conferences worldwide.
Known for: Expert Panel, Debate, Leadership Forum
Monica Nissén (Denmark · Art of Hosting, Participatory Leadership, Collective Wisdom)
Co-founder of the Art of Hosting and a leading practitioner of participatory leadership and collective wisdom. Designs and hosts gatherings for organizations, communities, and movements worldwide.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Circle, Appreciative Inquiry
Monita Rajpal (United Kingdom · Health & Wellness, Coaching, Live Events)
Known worldwide for her work at CNN International. Now also a certified personal development coach with a focus on health and wellness. Handles celebrities, newsmakers, breaking news and live events.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Emcee
Nancy White (Seattle, Washington, USA · Online Facilitation, Communities of Practice, Knowledge Management)
Pioneer of online and face-to-face facilitation for NGOs and communities of practice through Full Circle Associates, known globally for digital-era participatory methods.
Known for: World Café, Open Space Technology, Community of Practice facilitation, Online Facilitation Design
Natasha Del Toro (United States · Latin America, Investigative Journalism, Bilingual: Spanish)
Pulitzer Prize-winning broadcast journalist, correspondent and moderator celebrated for fearless investigative reporting. Bilingual, with extensive coverage of Latin America and Puerto Rico. Warm, empathetic style that asks the tough questions.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Nazanine Moshiri (Germany & Tunisia · Climate Security, Geopolitics, Conflict)
Globally respected climate expert, seasoned emcee and meeting chair. Senior Advisor for Climate and Peace at the Berghof Foundation in Berlin. Two decades of journalism at Reuters, ITN, and Al Jazeera English. Areas of expertise: climate security, geopolitics, conflict analysis.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Pavni Mittal (India & United States · South Asia, International Affairs, Moderator)
International correspondent with over a decade of reporting and producing experience. Smart, sharp moderating style with warmth and confidence. Online and on stage, taps into experience reporting major news in India, the US and around the world.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Peggy Holman (Seattle, Washington, USA · Emergent Change, Open Space Technology, Journalism Innovation)
Emergent-change facilitator, Open Space practitioner, and co-founder of Journalism That Matters, applying complexity thinking to civic and organisational transformation.
Known for: Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, World Café, Emergent Change Design
Peter Block (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA · Community Building, Belonging, Small Group Design)
Author of Community: The Structure of Belonging and Flawless Consulting. His small-group question design is the backbone of most modern belonging-focused gatherings.
Known for: Circle Practice, Small Group Dialogue
Phil Cass (Columbus, Ohio, USA · Physician Wellbeing, Art of Hosting, Healthcare Leadership)
Art of Hosting practitioner and physician-leadership facilitator helping doctors reconnect to calling, humanity, and community through participatory processes at WHOL.
Known for: Art of Hosting, World Café, Open Space Technology, Circle Practice
Priya Parker (Gathering Design, Conflict Resolution, Community Building)
Author of “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters.” Strategic advisor and facilitator who helps leaders and communities transform how they gather. Former conflict resolution facilitator.
Known for: 15 Toasts, Purpose-Driven Opening, Generous Authority Facilitation, Heat Map Conversation, Intentional Closing Ceremony, Exclusion as Design
Prue Clarke (Australia · International Affairs, Africa, Investigative Journalism)
Award-winning Australian American journalist who has reported from six continents for the Financial Times, Washington Post and the BBC. Co-founder of New Narratives, a nonprofit for investigative journalism in low-income countries.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Ria Baeck (Flanders, Belgium · Collective Presencing, Art of Hosting, Collective Intelligence)
Belgian Art of Hosting pioneer and author of Collective Presencing, exploring next-stage collective intelligence and co-creation in European contexts.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Collective Presencing, World Café, Circle Practice
Richelle Carey (United States · International Affairs, Politics, Race)
Emmy award-winning American journalist, host and skilled moderator. Lead anchor for Al Jazeera and CNN Headline News. Brings intelligence, compassion and authority. Expertise: international affairs, politics, race, sports, parenting and gender-based violence.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Rosa Zubizarreta (USA · Dynamic Facilitation, Choice-Creating, Wisdom Council)
Founder of DiaPraxis and author of the Dynamic Facilitation manual, helping leaders transform divergent viewpoints into collective insight and creative breakthroughs.
Known for: Dynamic Facilitation, Wisdom Council, Choice-Creating, Collaborative Sense-Making
Rowan Simonsen (Skanderborg, Denmark · Art of Hosting, Online Facilitation, Poetry)
Danish Art of Hosting steward, poet, coach, and online-facilitation pioneer co-creating Beehive Productions to cultivate meaningful conversation and collective sense-making.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Open Space Technology, World Café, Circle Practice
Sam Kaner (San Francisco, California, USA · Participatory Decision-Making, Facilitation Training, Diamond of Participation)
Founder of Community At Work and lead author of the landmark Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making, training facilitators worldwide since 1987.
Known for: Participatory Decision-Making, Diamond of Participation, Gradients of Agreement, Facilitative Listening
Sandra Janoff (Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA · Future Search, Whole-System Planning, Large-Group Methods)
Co-developer of Future Search with Marvin Weisbord and Director of the Future Search Network, enabling whole-system strategic planning for communities and organisations globally.
Known for: Future Search, Whole-System Planning, Search Conference
Sarah Whiteley (United Kingdom / Belgium · Art of Hosting Co-Initiator, Transition Navigation, Field-Weaving)
Co-initiator of the Art of Hosting and field-weaver guiding individuals and collectives through systemic transitions using subtle intelligence and Living Wholeness practices.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Living Wholeness, Hara Practice, Circle Practice
Shahira Amin (Egypt · Middle East, Bilingual: Arabic, Gender Equality)
Independent Egyptian journalist and broadcaster, former Deputy Head of Egypt’s Nile TV and longtime contributor to CNN’s Inside Africa. Multi-award-winning. Bi-lingual moderator in English and Arabic.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Shakuntala Santhiran (United States · International Affairs, Asia, Broadcasting)
International broadcast journalist, moderator and emcee with more than two decades at the BBC, CNN International and Al Jazeera English. Singapore-born, US-educated, has worked in Boston, London, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Doha and now New York.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Shreen Khan (United States · International Affairs, Storytelling, Food)
Award-winning journalist, storyteller and warm, personable moderator. Decade producing documentaries, digital shorts and TV for Al Jazeera and AJ+. Expertise spans international affairs, anthropology and food.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Taylor Bunocore (Strategic Offsites, Team Alignment, Transformative Experiences)
Expert facilitator specializing in transformative group experiences, strategic offsites, and high-stakes stakeholder alignment. Known for creating psychologically safe spaces where real breakthroughs happen.
Tenneson Woolf (Utah, USA · Art of Hosting, Participatory Process, Community Engagement)
Co-founder of the Art of Hosting network. A facilitator, writer, and poet focused on participatory process, community engagement, and the inner life of leadership.
Known for: Open Space Technology, World Café, Circle Practice
Teresa Posakony (Seattle, Washington, USA · Living Systems, Resilience, Art of Hosting)
Art of Hosting steward and living-systems practitioner supporting self-healing and resilient communities through facilitating transformative change in Seattle and globally.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Theory U, Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry
Tim Merry (Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada · Art of Hosting, Systems Change, Engagement Design)
Engagement specialist and Art of Hosting steward designing breakthrough change processes for governments, communities, and international organisations from Nova Scotia.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Open Space Technology, World Café, Theory U
Toke Paludan Møller (Denmark · Art of Hosting, Participatory Leadership, Strategic Conversation)
Co-founder of the Art of Hosting and InterChange. Pioneer of participatory leadership and host of large-scale strategic conversations across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Circle, World Café, Open Space
Tuesday Ryan-Hart (Pacific Northwest, USA · Systems Change, Equity-Centred Facilitation, Art of Hosting)
Systems change strategist and Art of Hosting steward centring equity in large-scale organisational and community transformation across the USA and internationally.
Known for: Art of Hosting, Open Space Technology, Theory U, Walk Out Walk On
Tumi Makgabo (South Africa · Africa, Economics, Mining)
One of South Africa’s most beloved broadcasters and journalists. Known worldwide for her work at CNN International. Entrepreneur, board member, and expert on African current and international affairs, economics and the mining industry.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Wanjira Mathai (Kenya · Climate, Environment, Youth)
A compelling keynote speaker, moderator, panelist and emcee. Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation. Named one of the world’s most influential Africans, her areas of expertise include climate change, the environment, youth and leadership.
Known for: Panel Moderation, Keynote
Yvonne Ndege (Kenya & United Kingdom · Africa, Migration, International Affairs)
High-profile journalist and media specialist who has worked for the BBC and Al Jazeera, reporting from more than 30 countries in Africa. Currently regional spokesperson at the International Organization for Migration in East Africa.
Known for: Panel Moderation
Full directory: gatheringarchitecture.com/facilitators — open and free. Moderator and emcee inquiries are handled through the directory’s booking partner.